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Iowa

Iowa is working to ensure its schools are safe and supportive. This page features school climate information for Iowa, including a list of grants the State and its communities have received; State discipline and bullying policies; data for a selection of indicators; and related news articles.

Grants Received

State Grant Programs

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed into law in 2015. The Student Support and Academic Enrichment (SSAE) program falls under ESSA, subpart 1 of Title IV, Part A. The SSAE program is intended to improve students’ academic achievement by increasing the capacity of State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), and local communities to provide all students with access to a well-rounded education; improve school conditions for student learning; and improve the use of technology to improve the academic achievement and digital literacy of all students. States receive funds in the form of block grants and then fund local education agencies. To learn more, visit NCSSLE’s Title IV, Part A, SSAE Program page.

In 2014, the Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) received a Project AWARE grant through the Now is the Time initiative. IDOE uses this 5-year grant to 1) train adults on responding to mental health issues when interacting with school-aged youth, 2) connect children, youth and families who may require support to appropriate mental health services, and 3) implement Mental Health First Aid and Youth Mental Health First Aid in State and local training programs. For more information about this grant, go to: https://www.samhsa.gov/nitt-ta/project-aware-grant-information.

In 2010, the Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) received a Safe Supportive Schools grant. IDOE used this 4-year grant to implement a measurement system in participating local education agencies to improve conditions for learning. Schools and districts used valid and reliable data to drive research-based prevention and intervention strategies to reduce behaviors that present barriers for learning among high-risk students, such as substance use and aggression. The comprehensive profile (20 pages) and brief snapshot (3 pages) describe the goals of the grant, participating districts, key operational partners, primary interventions and other implementation activities, outcome data, lessons learned, and plans for sustainability. In addition to the cross-grantee Executive Summary, a longer study document is available upon request (contact NCSSLE@air.org).To find out more about this grant, go to: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/safesupportiveschools/index.html.

In 2014, the Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) received a School Climate Transformation grant. With this 5-year grant, IDOE is developing state-wide support systems and providing technical assistance to local educational agencies and schools on implementing evidence-based multi-tiered behavioral frameworks. The primary goal is to improve behavioral outcomes and learning conditions for all students. To find out more about this grant go to: https://www2.ed.gov/programs/schoolclimatesea/index.html.

Local Educational Agency and District Grant Program

In 2014, the Des Moines Independent Community School District and the Ft. Dodge Community School District received a School Climate Transformation grant. With this 5-year grant, schools are developing support systems and providing technical assistance to schools on implementing evidence-based multi-tiered behavioral frameworks. The primary goal is to improve behavioral outcomes and learning conditions for all students. To find out more about this grant go to: http://www2.ed.gov/programs/schoolclimatelea/index.html.

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Selected Indicators

Indicator 1: Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property

20178.2,6.0

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Indicator 1: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported They Had Been Threatened or Injured with a Weapon (For Example, a Gun, Knife, or Club) on School Property One or More Times During the 12 Months Before the Survey

This state did not participate in data collection in 2009, 2013, or 2015.

Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 25, 2018.

Threatened or Injured with a Weapon on School Property

Year

Iowa

US

2017

8.2

6.0

Indicator 2: Involved in Physical Fight on School Property

20119.6,12.0

20177.4,8.5

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Indicator 2: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported Having Been in a Physical Fight on School Property One or More Times During the 12 Months Before the Survey

This state did not participate in data collection in 2009, 2013, or 2015.

Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 25, 2018.

Involved in Physical Fight on School Property

Year

Iowa

US

2011

9.6

12.0

2017

7.4

8.5

Indicator 3: Offered, Sold, or Given Illegal Drugs on School Property

201111.9,25.6

201722.1,19.8

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Indicator 3: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported that they Were Offered, Sold, or Given an Illegal Drug by Someone on School Property During the 12 Months Before the Survey

This state did not participate in data collection in 2009, 2013, or 2015.

Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 25, 2018.

Offered, Sold, or Given Illegal Drugs on School Property

Year

Iowa

US

2011

11.9

25.6

2017

22.1

19.8

Indicator 4: Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide

201114.6,15.8

201720.2,17.2

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Indicator 4: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported They Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide During the 12 Months Before the Survey

This state did not participate in data collection in 2009, 2013, or 2015.

Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 25, 2018.

Seriously Considered Attempting Suicide

Year

Iowa

US

2011

14.6

15.8

2017

20.2

17.2

Indicator 5: Did Not Participate in At Least 60 Minutes of Physical Activity

20119.0,13.8

201711.2,15.4

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Indicator 5: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported Not Participating in at Least 60 Minutes of Physical Activity that Increased Their Heart Rate and Made Them Breathe Hard Some of the Time on at Least 1 Day During the 7 Days Before the Survey

Data for this indicator are not available before 2011. This state did not participate in data collection in 2009, 2013, or 2015.

Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 25, 2018.

Did Not Participate in At Least 60 Minutes of Physical Activity

Year

Iowa

US

2011

9.0

13.8

2017

11.2

15.4

Indicator 6: Did Not Eat Vegetables 7 Days Before the Survey

20114.6,5.7

20178.3,7.2

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Indicator 6: Percentage of High School Students Who Reported They Did Not Eat Vegetables (e.g., Green Salad, Potatoes [Excluding French Fries, Fried Potatoes, or Potato Chips], Carrots, or Other Vegetables) During the 7 Days Before the SurveyIndicator 6:

Data for this indicator are not available before 2011. This state did not participate in data collection in 2009, 2013, or 2015.

Citation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2009, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Available at https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/data/yrbs/results.htm. Accessed on July 25, 2018.

The contents of the National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments Web site were assembled under contracts from the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Safe and Healthy Students to the American Institutes for Research (AIR), Contract Numbers ED-ESE-12-O-0035 and ED-ESE-16-A-0002.

This Web site is operated and maintained by AIR. The contents of this Web site do not necessarily represent the policy or views of the U.S. Department of Education nor do they imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Education.